Belturbet marks 50th anniversary of bombing

The 50th anniversary of the Belturbet bombing has been commemorated in a ceremony at the site of the December 1972 tragedy this afternoon.

The wreath-laying ceremony, which was addressed by Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Councillor John Paul Feeley, Producer of ‘Belturbet: A Bomb That Time Forgot’, RTÉ’s Frank Shouldice, and Margaret Urwin of Justice for the Forgotten, was attended by relatives of the victims and members of the local community. Local poet PJ Kennedy also read a poem at the event, and music was provided by Isaac Scanlan.

The Belturbet bomb was planted by Loyalist paramilitaries and detonated on 28th December 1972, claiming the life of 15-year-old local girl Geraldine O’Reilly, and 16-year-old Patrick Stanley from Clara, County Offaly, and injured over a dozen others. Geraldine was in town to buy chips, while Patrick, a helper on a gas bottle delivery truck, had been delayed in the town by engine trouble.

After laying a wreath at the bronze monument to the bomb victims on Main Street, Cathaoirleach, Cllr Feeley said, “The explosion in Belturbet, 50 years ago brought death and destruction to a peaceful border town. It shattered the lives of families left bereaved and the confidence of a community shocked by what happened. That grief was compounded by the lack of justice. Today, we paused to remember, show our solidarity with the families of Geraldine and Patrick and those injured and also express the hope that even at this remove those who perpetrated this crime are brought to justice”.

Margaret Urwin of Justice for the Forgotten said “Commemorative events are a source of great comfort and consolation to bereaved families and it is particularly important to mark significant anniversaries, such as this one.”

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information in relation to the Belturbet Bombing on 28th December, 1972 to contact the incident room at Ballyconnell Garda Station 049 9525580, the Garda confidential line Free-phone 1800 666 111 or Crimestoppers 1800 250025.

 

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley holds a minute's silence after he laid a wreath at the memorial for Geraldine O'Reilly & Patrick Stanley who were killed in the 1972 bombing in the town. Photo: Lorraine Teevan
Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley holds a minute's silence after he laid a wreath at the memorial for Geraldine O'Reilly & Patrick Stanley who were killed in the 1972 bombing in the town. Photo: Lorraine Teevan

 

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Anthony O'Reilly lays a wreath at the memorial for his sister Geraldine O'Reilly & Patrick Stanley from Co. Offaly who were killed in the 1972 bombing in the town during a 50th anniversary memorial in the town on Wednesday morning. Photo: Lorraine Teevan

 

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Susan Stanley speaks at the memorial for her brother Patrick Stanley & Belturbet teenager Geraldine O'Reilly, on Wednesday morning. The two teenagers were killed in the 1972 bombing in the town. Photo: Lorraine Teevan